Disguise as a form of Deceit

The Taming of the Shrew

Disguise as a form of Deceit

The Taming of the Shrew

Quote: Act 1 scene 1

You will be schoolmaster;And undertake the teaching of the maid:That's your device.

LUCENTIO

It is: may it be done?

TRANIO

Not possible; for who shall bear your part,And be in Padua here Vincentio's son;Keep house and ply his book, welcome his friends;Visit his countrymen and banquet them?

Elaboration

In act 1 scene 1 of Shakeshpere's The Taming of the Shrew, Lucentio fallis in love with Bianca upon first sight and wants to marry her. From the quote, Tranio comes up with a way for Lucentio to get close to Bianca by disguising him as a tutor. When Tranio realizes that he must be disguised as the real Lucentio, they both must change their social perspective in order to trick Baptista into allowing Lucentio to marry Bianca. As Lucentio questions if it is possible, it foreshadows the theme that there will have been a lot of trouble caused in trying to win over Bianca.

Quote: Act 3 Scene 1

LUCENTIO(DISGUISED AS CAMBIO)

'Hic ibat,' as I told you before, 'Simois,' I am

Lucentio, 'hic est,' son unto Vincentio of Pisa,

'Sigeia tellus,' disguised thus to get your love;

'Hic steterat,' and that Lucentio that comes

a-wooing, 'Priami,' is my man Tranio, 'regia,'

bearing my port, 'celsa senis,' that we might

beguile the old pantaloon.

BIANCA

Now let me see if I can construe it: 'Hic ibat

Simois,' I know you not, 'hic est Sigeia tellus,' I

trust you not; 'Hic steterat Priami,' take heed

he hear us not, 'regia,' presume not, 'celsa senis,'

despair not.

Elaboration

When "tutoring" Bianca in Latin, Lucentio reveals his true self to Bianca. Bianca finds that because he has used trickery once to get close to her as a tutor and she tells him that she does not trust him but also that he should keep trying to win her over. By disguising himself as a tutor, Lucentio has already dieceved Baptista and Bianca. In result, as soon as he tells Bianca who he really is, it immediatly leads to mistrust and potential trouble for Lucentio. If Bianca had really been worried about a disguised figure seeing, Shakesphere could have written that she tell Baptista! Luckily she did not, but already Lucentio got into quite some trouble and has given a reason for Bianca to not trust him.

Quotes: Act 4 Scene 2

Pedant

God save you, sir!

TRANIO

And you, sir! you are welcome.Travel you far on, or are you at the farthest?

Pedant

Sir, at the farthest for a week or two:But then up farther, and as for as Rome;And so to Tripoli, if God lend me life.

'Tis death for any one in MantuaTo come to Padua. Know you not the cause?Your ships are stay'd at Venice, and the duke;For private quarrel 'twixt your duke and him,Hath publish'd and proclaim'd it openly;'Tis, marvel, but that you are but newly come,

You might have heard it else proclaim'd about.

TRANIO

To save your life in this extremity;This favour will I do you for his sake;And think it not the worst of an your fortunes that you are like to Sir Vincentio.His name and credit shall you undertake;And in my house you shall be friendly lodged:Look that you take upon you as you should;You understand me, sir: so shall you stay till you have done your business in the city:If this be courtesy, sir, accept of it.

Pedant

O sir, I do; and will repute you ever

The patron of my life and liberty.

Elaboration

After Tranio (disguised as Lucentio) warms up to Baptista, he realizes that he has a chance to arrange the marrige. Biondello, another servant of Lucentio, realizes that he must find someone to disguise themself as Vincentio, Lucentio's father, in order for Baptista to arrange the marrige. They find a pedant coming to Padua from Mantua and trick him into doing what they say. He tells the pedant that the duke of Padua exicutes travelers from Mantua because they are not permitted in the city. As if they were not already into a lot of trouble if the plan got messed up, niw Tranio has to drag in another person to help in their mischevious plan. He probably does not like himself for ticking an innocent person and will potentially drag them into even more trouble as it keeps up.

Quote: Act 5 Scene 1

TRANIO

Sir, what are you that offer to beat my servant?

VINCENTIO

What am I, sir! nay, what are you, sir? O immortal gods! O fine villain! A silken doublet! a velvet hose! a scarlet cloak! and a copatain hat! O, I am undone! I am undone! while I play the good husband at home, my son and my servant spend all at

the university.

TRANIO

How now! what's the matter?

BAPTISTA

What, is the man lunatic?

TRANIO

Sir, you seem a sober ancient gentleman by your habit, but your words show you a madman. Why, sir, what 'cerns it you if I wear pearl and gold? I thank my good father, I am able to maintain it.

VINCENTIO

Thy father! O villain! he is a sailmaker in Bergamo.

BAPTISTA

You mistake, sir, you mistake, sir. Pray, what doyou think is his name?

VINCENTIO

His name! as if I knew not his name: I have brought him up ever since he was three years old, and hisname is Tranio.

Pedant

Away, away, mad ass! his name is Lucentio and he is mine only son, and heir to the lands of me, Signior Vincentio.

Elaboration

The theme of the story is just about wrapping up when the disguises come off in act 5. As the pendant disguised as Vincentio and the real Vincentio meet, they begin to bicker and confuse Baptista. While the argument is just starting, Tranio disguised as Lucentio comes and says that he is Lucentio. The real Vincentio then accuses Tranio for murdering his real son Lucentio when he is being wed in secret. Also Biondello comes into the catastrophy and Baptista has had enough. The cops come and everyone comes clean. Eventually Lucentio got married to Bianca, but in doing so got into serious trouble with his father and Baptista and probably felt ashamed for decieving everyone. The theme is by far shown to have grown the most here by showing that eventhough the plan got pretty far and worked, it also failed and caused a ton of confusion and mistrust. Tranio, Lucentio, and Biondello were all lucky that they were not heavily punished. Thus goes to show that disguises used to dieceve people often do not work and lead to mistrust and trouble for the Diecevers.